Contents:

• Facts against the use of hydrogenated palm oil
• To use it or better not to use it

Palm oil is present in many popular foods. You can find it in breadsticks, cookies, margarines, various sweets and salty snacks, and especially in the very popular hazelnut-chocolate spread for sandwiches. We find it in ready meals, instant products, and even cosmetics. Sometimes it's simply called "vegetable oil," and manufacturers love using it. Why? The reason is simple: it's the cheapest oil , it's easy to store, doesn't spoil at high temperatures, and is easy to process. So, if we want to shop without this fat, it could be difficult. And why would we want to avoid it? There are many negative opinions about palm oil, especially related to how it's extracted. So let's look at the facts.

Facts against the use of hydrogenated palm oil

The most important facts that prove the harmfulness of palm oil are undeniable:

• Destruction of the natural environment – ​​Oil palm plantations, from which palm oil is extracted, contribute to deforestation in Indonesia and Malaysia, among other countries. Plantations are primarily located in rainforest areas, considered one of the world's greatest ecosystems. When they are cleared for oil palm cultivation, orangutans, tigers, elephants, birds, and many other species lose their habitat.
• Most palm oil used in production is refined and hydrogenated. This means it undergoes a process that creates trans fats, which have a very adverse, even harmful, effect on human health. Their regular consumption contributes to cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, heart attacks, infertility, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and even cancer, among others. However, unhydrogenated, raw palm oil, which has a dark, reddish color, is a valuable source of carotenes, retinol, and vitamins E and K.
• Even the use of palm oil from certified sources is no guarantee that the plantation won't contribute to environmental destruction or violate workers' rights. It often turns out that the differences between certified and non-certified plants are not that great. The organization that issues certificates is RSPO ( Roundtable Table on Sustainable Palm Oil ). Around 20 crops worldwide have received this certification.

To use it or better not to use it

Yes and no. Since palm oil is usually used in hydrogenated form, i.e. as trans fat, which is unhealthy for our health, it is definitely better to avoid it in this form. Manufacturers often refer to it as "hydrogenated vegetable fat." Secondly, palm oil is mostly found in highly processed, fatty, and overly sweet foods—products that we don't really need in a healthy, balanced diet. They probably won't harm us from time to time and if consumed occasionally, but on a daily basis it is definitely better to avoid them and instead choose fresh vegetables and fruit, as well as products rich in healthy unsaturated fats, such as fresh fish , seeds , and olive oil . When we buy products containing palm oil, we do so consciously and choose those that contain certified organic palm oil.